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Caroline May to Priscilla Strange 19 April 1847 Tottenham 19/4-47 My dear Sister (Private) I suppose thy visitors have left thee for a time but thou hast too much to take thy attention to let thee feel exactly lonely altho' every change will bring closely to view the loss thou especially hast sustained to an extent not to be calculated - Our hearts are just now made sad by the affecting intelligence received this morning of the death of Dr Bevan after about a week's illness. I heard of this first on 5th day when passing thro' London it was spoke of as an attack of Rheumatick fever or gout but the head was much affected the last few days & I do not know what it terminated in as to the death - cut down so suddenly in nearly the prime of life & in the middle of his busy career it is indeed a striking instance of the uncertain tenure by which we hold everything here & the need of a daily remembrance of it - Poor dear Hannah - how I feel for her left with such a family all boys but one - J.B. died between One & Two o'clock this morning. I wish to take the opportunity while thou art alone to refer to a subject which I know greatly interests thee as well as ourselves - finding that information was {waited} for with regard to the knitting machine which Ransome & May have been making, & other machinery J.H. took a journey to Ipswich & my E.C.M. thought it best to let Brother C. know how things stood, then, not liking to leave Francis out we acquainted them both with it - the latter has met with him at our house & was eventually much pleased with him he was quite sociable & his company quite pleasant to dear Father with whom he is very chatty on business subjects &c. Thou wilt begin to think the secrecy is at end but not so - circumstances have prevented J.H. from making his Father acquainted with the prospects, & the matter is still left open - it is therefore as much for his sake as our own that we wish to avoid any further spread of the thing at present so that my own sisters family are mostly in ignorance of it. the thing We have thought it right to communicate with Brother H. on the subject - so far all look satisfied & desiring as all parties do to be rightly directed I trust we shall be so - our brother & Sister taking time whether apparently needed or not - And now for another subject also for yourselves alone - It seems that H.Headley's Mother has a strong desire to see him & is looking forward to being in this neighbourhood soon when it is thought if you will kindly allow him to come up & meet her an interview may be obtained - they will endeavour to give you timely notice when a day & place can be fixed upon - I believe it is to be at Newington - As this was a meeting which our beloved Mother used to wish for it seems pleasant to us to think of it being accomplished, although my E.M. has not had just the same desire for it on some accounts - We have been concerned to hear that neither of you were strong I hope you {will} both be improved, my husband will be glad to hear from thine if he has got to the end of the late undertaking - We have had an unusual succession of engagements & this week are commencing the cleaning, taking the advantage of the family being smaller than usual - I accompanied L.A. & C. to Croydon on 5th day afternoon leaving C.Bayes & Emily who came on 3rd day at T. but they left afterwards - I lodged two nights at my brother Storrs[?] not having been there for about a year & a half - the girls are to return the middle or latter end of the week - I do not know whether Emily W. is aware that her sister Ann is at Tottenham under {?} care to see what change will do for her - she is much the same at present but there has not been much time to try it - I went to see her on 7th day & she begged me to come again very soon - You have perhaps heard what is reported of B.Braithwaite that he has chosen Martha Gillett as a partner for life - It looks very suitable but I cannot vouch for the truth of it - I shall be glad to hear from thee when thou canst find time to send a few lines. How does baby get on ? With our united dear love to Brother & thyself & flock Thy ever affectionate Sister C.May. Love to Emily - what a [?] the Memorandum come, I do not know when we can [?] copied. Seal :Germanic C.M penny red on letter M.& Strange Postmarks : [C1] TOTTENHAM AMPTHILL Ampthill AP-19 [NV] AP20 P.S. Beds. 19AP 1847

19 April 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

May, Caroline,
Strange, Priscilla,
Bevan, Dr.,
Ransome & May,
May, Edward Curtis,
May, Charles,
May, Francis,
Headly, H,
Bayes, C.,
Storr,
Braithwaite, B.,
Gillett, Martha,
May & Strange

fever, rheumatism, knitting, Ransome & May, May & Strange, MARRIAGE, Tottenham, London, Stoke Newington